Schoolyard Forest Pilot Projects
/At Green Schoolyards America, we believe that every student should have easy access to a cool, shaded, tree-filled schoolyard where they can play, learn, and socialize - protected from extreme heat and hot asphalt. Most of the time, we work with school districts and state agencies, rather than individual schools, to achieve this vision. Sometimes, however, it’s necessary to get our hands dirty and put our boots on the ground, so that we can understand the real world challenges that schools experience and be more effective in working to solve them.
That is why, as part of the California Schoolyard Forest System®, our staff has been working with school districts, school communities, and local organizations in Los Angeles and Sacramento, California to design and implement two schoolyard forest pilot projects. The two schools were selected by Green Schoolyards America and the local school districts based on criteria including student demographics, readiness and commitment, and certain site parameters. In addition to supporting the school communities in designing, planting, using, and stewarding their schoolyard forests, these projects will provide invaluable information to our field on how to scale schoolyard forests across the state.
Pilot at 122nd Street Elementary School, LAUSD
Design team assessing Current conditions at 122nd Street Elementary school
”I picked writing or reading because if you read in a forest it will be quieter and you will have shade.” - Student, 122nd Street ES
“I liked the forest for gathering because it looks like you could just sit down, relax, spend time with your friend.” - Student, 122nd Street ES
122nd Street Elementary School is located in South Los Angeles. The design for their schoolyard forest has been underway since last fall, with design support from SLA (South Los Angeles), a local landscape design firm and non-profit. Teachers, caregivers, and students participated via surveys, interviews and meetings including a design workshop that explored design ideas through different activities including creating their own forest diorama. Students from several classes also voted on what they want to see in their school’s future forest, as well as had time to imagine what this space might actually look and feel like.
Students are already talking about how relaxed and calm they will be in the forest, and how they plan to read and play under the trees. Teachers are excited about the possibility of more shade and places to teach outside and families expressed their delight that the school would be getting more trees and want to help with planting.
Pilot at Parkway Elementary School, SCUSD
Site of future forest at Parkway elementary school
“Currently there is not much to offer outside. In the summer there is little shade, and what shade we have is right by the big playground that my students aren't allowed to go on.”
- Teacher, Parkway ES“I like the play logs because you can jump from each log, whee, whee!” - Student, Parkway ES
At Parkway Elementary, a TK-Grade 6 school in the Sacramento Unified School District, meetings to envision and design a schoolyard forest have been underway with the school community, the district facilities and operation team, the district sustainability manager, and the landscape design firm, Bay Tree Design. In March, Green Schoolyards America hosted both a design open house and a day with classrooms so that teachers, staff, families, and students could give their initial input on elements and activities they would like to see in their future schoolyard forest, giving their opinion on everything from play elements such as logs and boulders to potential activities in the forest such as observing wildlife, creating art from natural materials, and having lessons.
Adults and children have both been enthused about more access to nature, and teachers and administrators have all commented on the need for more shade for their hot schoolyard days. Teachers are also excited about the opportunities for lessons outside, whether in science, language arts, or music.
Next Steps
We look forward to sharing finalized designs with both communities soon. Construction work is planned for the summer and planting work days with the school community will be in the fall. Green Schoolyards America will also offer professional development to support teachers in engaging students in planning, stewarding, and learning in their future forest.
We are thankful for the dedication and enthusiastic participation of both school communities. We look forward to sharing the progress on these projects and all that we learn from them with you!